Draft gear



Nov. 8; 1927.

W. H. COTTON DRAFT GEAR Filed July 30, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,296

W. H. COTTON DRAFT ergm Filed July 30. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 m f v v q 25 f 3 6 37 25 I (Q) g 1 v [n yenaw: Weaver X65650)? Nov. 8, 1927.

W. H. COTTON DRAFT GEAR- Filed July so, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet i:

vendor: ZeV-V'Zan J MM &

W. H. COTTON DRAFT GEAR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 50, 1925 [9e yen for: 1/6: Z 66712? 6341072 lllllllllllllll-IIIIIIL ww+mlmwn. vx HUILWJJIJ Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

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DRAFT ;App1ication fi1e d July 30,

The invention relates to draft gears of the friction type, for railway-=cars,-its object-being to secure simplicity-and cheapness of manufacture a and hi g h efficiency.

-A' preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in-' the' accompanying.;draw-' ings, iii-which Lisa-plan View of the gear-as applied-i0 -a'--ca r,1 some parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2-i'sa side elevation, someparts'being brokenaway and other parts-beingshownin section, the gear being shown under com pression; Fig. 3 -is asideelevation of-t-he gean-in release;

Fig. l is a transverse median vertical section of the gear applied to the draftsills of a railway car;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one of the elements of the gear FlgS. 6 and a 7 are details in perspective of certain of" the elements of the gear; and

-Figs58- and Qare'a plan view and side elevation respectively of the gear showing a modified form of construction.

For the purpose-of showing the mannervof mounting 'thegea-r on 'a car there is-shownia pairof draft sills at 10 ,a topplateconnecting' the sills, at 11; ae bottom tie plate and gear support 12 a conventional form :of yoke for enclosing the gear ate13 and the butt of a coupleratl l. A pair of draft lugs1-5,-16 and a -pair of buliingzlngs 17, 18 are also shown. These elements however fornr-no partofthe-present invention.

The improved gear comprises a pair of similar followers 19, 20 adapted for engagement respectively with the draft and buffing lugs and provided with transverse converging wedging faces 21, 22 and the side flanges 23, 24. Cooperating with the wedging faces of each of the followers is a pair of wedge blocks or bars 25 which are of such length that they make a loose fit with the side walls of the followers, these walls serving to retain them'in proper position.

Located on the central transverse median line of the gear is a tension rod of sufficient length to extend through and beyond the sills 10 and carry on its end portions expansion springs 26, 27 which react between seats 28, 29 in the form of nuts threaded upon the ends of the rod, and seats GEA 1925. Serial No. 45,950.-'

overlapthebloclrs 25, 25, onezithereofl cooperating with the upper and theether with the lower wedging facesof the .blO0kSi32, i32. Preferably the blocks 32, i 32 .i are nerti'ca'll y recessed centrally across their wedging faces, as indicated at '36, and: theelementsz-Bfi 1 are provided "with lateralprojectionsi as 37 for entering these recesses, .thereby interlocking the elements referred to: against relative lon gitudinal movement; .Each -:of the elements 35 as transversely.recessed .111 its lower face as indicated at 38 .toaccommodate theirod by urged ,ba'ckwardly sand, into-engagement respectively with the draft -and-hbuffiD-g lugs. .7

' Under the influence of eitherdraft or buffing stresses, one of the followers is moved until they substantially contact. with [the rod :50, and the followers 19, 2Obeing sthereinwardly or toward the other follower, forcing outwardly the blocks 25, 25. The elements 35, 35 are thereby forced apart, moving upwardly and downwardly respectively and thus forcing apart or laterally outward the wedge blocks 32, 32 against the resistance of the springs 26, 27. The inner faces of the blocks 25, 25 bear against end faces of the blocks 32, 32 and the friction between them is very heavy, and is the greater because of their twofold relative movement, the former moving vertically and the latter horizontally. Friction is developed between the various cooperating wedging faces, and between the blocks 25,25 and the elements 32, 32, of sufficient intensity to give the gear high capacity. All of the elements of the gear, with the exception of the springs and tension rod, may be of cast metal and capable of use without machining. The followers 19, 20 are provided with forwardly extending side flanges 4:0, 41 of such length that they make contact with the ends of the blocks 32, 32 when the gear is under full compression.

Vhile the preferred form of construction has been described various changes in detail may be made without departing from the V thexflrst named wedges, a pair of elements eachoverlapping a pair of the second named wedges at opposite ends of the gear, such elements having wedging faces laterally disposed with reference to the axis of the gear, a pair of wedge blocks cooperating with the wedge faces of each of the last named elements and frictionally engaging a pair of the second named Wedges, and spring means the last defined wedge blocks.

7 2. In a draft gear, in combination, a pair of opposed followers, a transverse tension rod, a pair of expansion springs mounted on theend portions of the rod and expanding resistin the outward lateral movement of inwardly, wedging elements cooperating by their wedgingengagement for compressing the springs, and sets of wedging elements associated one with each of the followers and acting by their wedging engagement to cause the wedging action of the first-named wedging elements.

'3. A pair of longitudinally movable followers each having a spreading wedge associated therewith, a pair of wedge blocks cooperating with each of the spreading wedges and each having an inner face normal to the axis of the gear, a pair of laterally mov-' able wedge blocks interposed between the first named blocks at each end of the gear, wedging elements for urging outwardly the last named wedge blocks and being actuated by the first named blocks, and spring means resisting the outward movement of the second named blocks. 7 V,

4. A pair of opposed followers each having aV-shaped wedging face, floating wedge blocks engaging each of such faces and each having an inner face normal to the axis of the gear, a pair of laterally movable blocks interposed between .and frictionally engag- 1 ing thefloating blocks at opposite ends of the gear, each of the interposed blocks haV- ing a V-shaped recess in itsinner face, a pair of wedging elements cooperating with thefaces of such recesses and bearing on the outer faces of the fioating bloc'ks, and

spring means opposingthe outward movement of the'interposed blocks.

5. A pair of opposed followers each having a V-shaped wedging face, floating wedge blocks engaging each of such faces and each having an inner face'normal to the axis of the gear, a pair of laterally movable blocks interposed between and frictionally engaging the floating blocks at opposite ends of the gear, each of the interposedbl'ocks having a V-shaped recessin its inner face, a 1

pair of wedging elements cooperating with thefaces of such recesses and bearing on theouter faces of the floating blocks, and spring means opposing the outward movement of the interposed blocks, the followers having forwardly extending sideflanges for engaging the ends, of the interposed blocks when the gear is fully compressed. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER H. COTTON. 

